7 youths arrested after stolen SUV crashes in Norwalk

A car lays on its side on Grist Mill Road after it crashed Aug. 9 near Route 7 in Norwalk following a high-sped pursuit from Westport.

A car lays on its side on Grist Mill Road after it crashed Aug. 9 near Route 7 in Norwalk following a high-sped pursuit from Westport.

Photo: Contributed Photo

7 youths arrested after stolen SUV crashes in Norwalk

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NORWALK — Seven juveniles are facing theft charges after a high-speed pursuit from Westport to Norwalk ended with a stolen car flipping over on the Route 7 connector, police said.

Around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, Westport police responded to reports of a car theft in progress on Chapel Hill Road.

While approaching the street, an officer observed a gray GMC Acadia traveling at a high rate of speed away from the scene.

Police said that the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, but it sped past him on to the Post Road. As police pursued the stolen vehicle, the car turned around suddenly and attempted to strike two police cruisers, reports show.

Though the officers maneuvered out of the way of the stolen car, they eventually terminated the pursuit due to high speeds and the growing danger of the chase.

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A short time later, Norwalk police caught sight of the stolen vehicle traveling westbound on Westport Avenue, near Stew Leonard’s. As the officer pursued the vehicle, however, the car turned off its headlights, sped away at a high speed and eventually lost the police tail.

Despite losing sight of the suspects, the Norwalk officer managed to transmit the last known location of the vehicle to other units.

Using these transmissions, police eventually located the stolen car to the Route 7 Connector where, again, the vehicle was seen driving with its headlights off before it took off at high speeds and lost police near the Merritt Parkway on-ramp at Exit 3, police said.

After checking the Merritt Parkway, and surrounding areas, police eventually found the stolen car flipped over off the shoulder of Grist Mill Road.

Upon arrival, police found two teens already outside of the flipped car, who were promptly placed under arrest. The five other juvenile males were also arrested as they exited the vehicle.

Lt. Terry Blake, a Norwalk police spokesman, said that all the teens, who hailed from the New Haven area, were sent to Norwalk Hospital for observation. None sustained any injuries, Blake added.

Grist Mill Road was closed from 4-7 a.m. Wednesday as crash investigators conducted an investigation into the accident.

Blake said that the high speed at which the teens attempted the right-hand turn off the connector sent the car flipping into a grassy bank nearby.

“It did not seem like a significant rollover,” said Blake.

Three of the juvenile males had active “Take into Custody” orders out of New Haven. One of the juveniles also had an active warrant out for his arrest in New Haven, while another was reported missing from New Haven.

All were charged first-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny and interfering with police.

The driver of the stolen vehicle was additionally charged with reckless operation, engaging in a pursuit and operating without a license.

No court dates have been scheduled for the teens yet, and additional charges from Westport are pending.